Preventing and Managing School Violence

Posted by: Asa Don Brown on June 6, 2012 10:49 am
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Children are barometers of the chaos that exists within their lives.  If a child’s internal and external lives are proving emotionally gregarious, then life can prove personally limitless.  However, if life is proving egregious in nature, then all forms of life may feel personally bleak and without personal merit. 

WHAT IS THE CAUSATION OF SCHOOL VIOLENCE?

Children who act out violently are frequently displaying signs of desperation. Desperation may be fueled by a child feeling excluded, judged, disrespected, disapproved, disavowed, or unloved.

Acts of school violence have left many with feelings of frustration, indifference, and a feeling that schools utterly are incompetent.  The reality is, school administrators, teachers, parents, and students themselves are feeling hopeless and desperate to bring normalcy to the academic process.   

ANGER

Anger is most commonly the root cause of school violence.   What is anger?  Anger is a strong emotional response to a situation, event, circumstance, or person.  It is this displeasure with life at school, in their home, or globally.

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*The views expressed by our authors are personal opinions and do not necessarily reflect the views of the CCPA

The Effects of Trauma on Children and Adolescents

Posted by: Asa Don Brown on May 23, 2012 4:40 pm
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And finally I twist my heart round again, so that the bad is on the outside and the good is on the inside, and keep on trying to find a way of becoming what I would so like to be, and could be, if there weren’t any other people living in the world. 

                                                                                                       ~ Anne Frank

Traumatic experiences incurred in early childhood can have an egregious effect upon the human condition including: the psychological, physiological, neurological, emotional, social, and academic readiness and preparedness for life. 

One of the greatest challenges posed to professionals is that,  “childhoood trauma does not come in one single package.” (Brown, 2008, p. 5) Therefore, making the diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis is the Achilles heel of the therapeutic process. 

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*The views expressed by our authors are personal opinions and do not necessarily reflect the views of the CCPA

Parental Expressions of Love and Affection

Posted by: Asa Don Brown on May 8, 2012 5:03 pm
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 Love means not ever having to say you’re sorry.
                                                                                                          ~ Erich Segal

 As parents, we may recall our own parent’s physical and verbal expressions of affection.  Becoming parents changes our perceptional lenses, shifting our previous views and expressions of affection.   As a parent, we are looking through a lens of discovery evaluating what is appropriate and what is inappropriate.  How do we determine what is appropriate or inappropriate? Who’s to say that my perceptions of affection are correct, while your perceptions are incorrect?    Should there be standards for gauging various forms and degrees of affection?

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*The views expressed by our authors are personal opinions and do not necessarily reflect the views of the CCPA

Emphasis on Fitness

Posted by: Asa Don Brown on April 24, 2012 4:38 pm
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Health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being, and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.  ~ World Health Organization

Fitness is a lifestyle.  It is a deliberate action which is directed by a purposeful intention.  If we desire for our children to live and lead healthier and happier lives, then we must conscientiously set out to model a positive example. 

“Western society is in a state of health never seen in history.  We are fatter, less productive, and at a higher risk of developing disease, early osteoporosis, and clinical depression than ever before.” (Brazier, 2009, p. 3)  What has caused the decay of our society’s health and wellbeing?  Is it that we are less driven or motivated?  Is it that our time is occupied with technological or occupational endeavors preventing us from being fit? Whatever our excuse, whatever the reason, we must learn to embrace the need for a healthier lifestyle. 

The lack of physical activity can compound our internal and external stressors.  “Chronic negative stress also is linked to insomnia, anxiety, and depression.” (Starr & McMillan, 2010, p. 297)

The benefits of fitness are countless.  Living a fit life will lead to having a healthier life.

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*The views expressed by our authors are personal opinions and do not necessarily reflect the views of the CCPA

Birthday Party

Posted by: Hailing Huang on April 16, 2012 8:00 am
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In Canada, a birthday party is a huge issue for a child who is between the ages of five and ten. Since she came to Canada three years ago, one of the excitements that my daughter is anticipating every year is her birthday party.  Over the last three years, Vive has received more than 20 birthday party invitations from her friends and she did not miss a single one.

Now, her 10th birthday is approaching. She has been excited, thinking about how to plan and prepare. After attending numerous parties, she has developed sufficient knowledge and skills in planning, designing and running her own. I, who used to take full responsibility and be in charge, have gradually moved to a secondary position, to be her assistant. Planning an event like a birthday party isn’t easy; there are seven steps: first, list the people you like to invite, write, design the card and send out the card. Second, figure out the location of the party. Third, brain storming what kind of activities, programs, games to implement. Fourth, what kind of food will be provided? Fifth, how many assistants you can find to help you out, and who is doing what. Sixth, planning and shopping for the gift bags. Seventh, keep the budget in mind, and carry out the show.  

Three years ago, the concept of a birthday party was new for us who had come from China. Back home there is no such thing as a birthday party for a child. Chinese hold birthday parties for the elders who are over the age of 60. However, in order to encourage her to make friends and mingle with other kids of her age, I have supported and encouraged my daughter to participate. At the same time, I have had to learn how to organize and run a party with her.

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*The views expressed by our authors are personal opinions and do not necessarily reflect the views of the CCPA

Why Reading is Important for Your Children

Posted by: Asa Don Brown on April 10, 2012 4:33 pm
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The benefits of reading to children is severalfold.  As young children, we are comforted by the calm voices of our parents and the physical contact received while being read to.  The initiation of reading develops a bond between parent and child.   

As your children develops,  you can introduce them to picture books, nursery rhymes, easy readers, and various transition books, which help expose them to many academic, psychological, and life principles. 

PARENTAL – CHILD ATTACHMENT

A major area of concern in today’s society, is the phenomenologically increase or lack of parental-child attachment. We live in a society that has become so technologically savvy, that we are beginning to loose our personal intimacy with one another.   

Attachment begins in the early stages of development.  It is an emotional and physical interconnection that occurs when mother and/or father and child have an opportunity to bond.  The bonding occurs through physical touch, comforting, playing, verbal and nonverbal communication, and intentional and/or unintentional affection. 

The benefit of reading is that you are purposefully paying attention.  You are offering a gentle voice and soothing embrace while reading your chosen literature.  Therefore, children have a greater propensity of bonding with their parental caregiver.  

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*The views expressed by our authors are personal opinions and do not necessarily reflect the views of the CCPA

The Importance of Play

Posted by: Asa Don Brown on March 29, 2012 4:25 pm
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Children thrive upon play.  As a toddler, we mimic our parents, our siblings, our pets, the television, and many other significant participants in our lives.  As a child, we are in a perpetual learning curve, constantly seeking to be stimulated.  Fostering a need for such stimulation begins within the home.  As parents, we are the consummate role model.  We are the creative instigator of their developing minds.  

Creativity is the freest form of self-expression and, for children, the creative process is more important than the finished product. There is nothing more fulfilling for children than to be able to express themselves freely. The ability to be creative can do much to nurture your children’s emotional health. All children need to be creative is the freedom to commit themselves to the effort and make whatever activity they are doing their own. 

(PBS, 2012, Online)

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*The views expressed by our authors are personal opinions and do not necessarily reflect the views of the CCPA

Managing Disruptive Behaviors in the Classroom

Posted by: Asa Don Brown on March 13, 2012 9:49 am
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The classroom is a rapidly shifting and volatile environment.   “It is essential to this learning environment that respect for the rights of others seeking to learn, respect for the professionalism of the instructor (teacher), and the general goals of academic freedom are maintained.  Occasionally, faculty members find that they can not provide effective classroom instruction because of disruptions.” (Butler University, 2012, Online)

When a child is disruptive in the classroom, this can cause other children to perform poorly, as well as, igniting other children to become agitated, emotionally distraught, and insecure in the safety of their classroom.  Unfortunately, disruptive behaviors act as a bong vibrating throughout the learning environment. 

Disruptive children may or may not recognize the repercussions of their behaviors, attitudes and perceptions. “Children who have habits of behaving in hostile and aggressive ways are almost universally disliked.  They are disliked by their peers, siblings, neighbors, teachers and not infrequently by their parents.” (Braman, p. 149, 1997)  Regrettably, disruptive children are often lost to their own negative behaviors, attitudes, and perceptions.  Leaving an impression upon the child that they are worthless, underserving, and alone.    “The habitually hostile child learns early that his (her) behaviors is not going to earn him (her) the love and affection he (she) so desperately wants.” (Braman, p.149, 1997)  Continue reading →




*The views expressed by our authors are personal opinions and do not necessarily reflect the views of the CCPA

Psychological Benefits of Art Therapy

Posted by: Asa Don Brown on February 28, 2012 10:43 am
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“Beholding beauty with the eye of the mind, he will be enabled to bring forth, not images of beauty, but realities…” ~ Plato

As parents, when our child falls ill, or  is prone to a disorder or a discomfort; we are diligent to seek for remedies and constructive answers to aide in that time of discomfort.   As a parent, I can reassure you that I will do everything in my power to gain the best care for my child’s needs.

Whether we are searching for answers for the physical or the psychological; as parents we yearn for positively constructive remedies to solve our child’s discomforts.

Art therapy is one of many modalities that is capable of helping guide your child to health and happiness. Art therapy is an expressive language of the conscious and the unconscious minds.    The pursuit of art can be accomplished through various mediums including:  sculpting, drawing, mosaics, painting, clay making, music and variety of art modalities.  Art therapy is instrumental in assessing and treating a variety of psychological, as well as, physically disorders.

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*The views expressed by our authors are personal opinions and do not necessarily reflect the views of the CCPA

Respect

Posted by: Asa Don Brown on February 17, 2012 1:14 pm
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As parents, we are often reminded that our children are direct reflections of our own lives.  Whether we have a singular fear or set of fears, the likelihood of our children adapting such fears into their own lives is greatly increased.  Moreover, if we have a successful habit, the likelihood our children will employ this habitual act into their own lives increases as well.  Children thrive upon our dos and don’ts of life.  They consciously and unconsciously inherit a vast array of our mannerisms, habits, phobias, traits, and personalities.  Children are sponges soaking up the very essence of our lives. 

As a therapist, I have worked with many parents who felt disrespected by their children.  Sadly, it is not rare for the same parental figures to be struggling with respect within their marital relationship. When parents indicate that their children are “being disrespectful,” or that they are “showing little respect;” I begin by asking the parents to define the meaning of respect.  Why? Everyone has an unique definition of respect, but not all respect is equivalent in its meaning.

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*The views expressed by our authors are personal opinions and do not necessarily reflect the views of the CCPA